Tag Archives: HAL 9000

12/1/2012

Today on Discovery News. From the article “The idea of malevolent robots subjugating and killing off humans has been the staple of numerous science fiction books and movies. The half-torn off android face of Arnold Schwarzenegger in The Terminator film series, and the unblinking fisheye lens of the HAL 9000 computer in the film classic 2001 A Space Odyssey have become iconic of this fear of evil machines.”

Check it out.

HAL 9000, from the classic film 2001: A Space Odyssey

11/29/2012: I’ll admit to an unhealthy obsession with space travel, colonization and exploration. Coupled with an utter lack of skill in the Sciences, this means I am Earthbound but always interested in new space news. I am also blessed to have a friend from school, Nagin Ahmed Cox, who is a scientist on the Mars Curiousity project with JPL. She occasionally posts on Facebook about getting her turn to drive Curiousity, etc. She was visible throughout the broadcast of the Curiousity landing, and she travels the country and the world teaching about space science, the various Mars missions she has worked on, and building enthusiasm for the programs. I am jealous of her in the best of ways – I celebrate her success, as I do for the entire Curiousity team, and wish desperately I had made different choices many years ago. However, I still want it known that when middle aged pudgy women are needed for space travel and colonization, I will gladly volunteer at whatever capacity I am needed. Space janitor (sorry, maintenance engineer), Mars Colony Starbucks dishwasher, whatever.

NASA’s Mars rover Curiosity used its Mars Hand Lens Imager (MAHLI) to snap a set of 55 high-resolution images on Oct. 31. Researchers stitched the pictures together to create this full-color self-portrait.